Spooky bird. It took several tries over a couple weeks to get some decent shots. I finally figured out that I was standing about 4 ft from its nest which is why I keep getting the shots of her staring at me. Actually, I'm starting to like that photo.

QUESTION: the last two are different crops of the same photo. I usually crop bird photos pretty close, so the landscape is a big departure for me. That's my choice but I'd like to hear other opinions without giving away my thoughts.

All photos: Pentax K20D, DA* 300/f4, 2.0TC, FGZ540 Flash with Better Beamer, Monopod. ISO 800.

I think that there is a lot to be said for showing the bird or other animal in it's natural habitat. Having said that, I also like shots such as your #3 with the subject jumping out of a beautiful bokeh. With respect to #4 and #5, too much "landscape" as in #5 diminishes the importance of the bird as subject. #4 is better than #5 although I would have cropped closer to the bunch of pinecones on the right to provide more space in front of the bird.

I'll agree that the #3 headshot is an excellent shot and one that I always strive to get - you just have to get close enough and be fast enough without scaring off your subject. Of course, it doesn't let you see what the whole beautiful bird looks like.

My real objective in the posting was that I excepted everyone to jump on the side of landscape #5 over the portrait #4. Yea, both have too much background clutter. But liik at that almost textbook triangle in $5 thats formed by the bird and two clumps of pinecones and supported by that large tree branch. Doesn't that make for terrific composition?

I'm no expert and many here are gods of photography compared to me, but I feel that none of your photos are sharp. They are all blurry or out of focus.is it badly compressed jpg files? Or are they very noisy? Or does this monitor at work suck?

Recently, I have been frequently frustrated with the sharpness of my photos. I feel they are 8.5 of 10 and I think its happening mostly with the TC in place and all of these used a TC. I am also learning that shots that I used to get away with on the monopod get tougher with a 400-600 lens. My hands tremble due to some medication.

All this is pushing me towards using a tripod which I've been avoiding due to the speed and quickness of the monopod, cost of a good tripod.

Appreciate you comments.

Composition wise , # 2 and #4 are quite good . These were shot with a mono-pod ??? What shutter speed did you use on the photos ?? For sharpness , you should use AT LEAST 1/*** in comparison to your focal length . Example .. 600mm lens should be minimal 1/600 second ..

Yes these are all monopod shots. I know well the rule of shutter soeed vs focal length. But, I was surprised when I checked the data. They were all taken at ISO 400, f5.6, 300mm, 1/180, with anti-shake. I just started using a flash with better beamer for bird shots and the forces me into the TV (shutter priority mode). Its a very shady area. Guess I should have gone to ISO 800 f4.

I think I need to invest in a decent tripod.

Thanks for the observation.